Phylogeny-aware linear B-cell epitope predictor detects targets associated with immune response to orthopoxviruses.

ABSTRACT: We introduce a phylogeny-aware framework for predicting linear B-cell epitope (LBCE)-containing regions within proteins. Our approach leverages evolutionary information by using a taxonomic scaffold to build models trained on hierarchically structured data. The resulting models present performance equivalent or superior to generalist methods, despite using simpler features and a fraction of the data volume required by current state-of-the-art predictors. This allows the utilization of available data for major pathogen lineages to facilitate the prediction of LBCEs for emerging infectious agents. We demonstrate the efficacy of our approach by predicting new LBCEs in the monkeypox (MPXV) and vaccinia viruses. Experimental validation of selected targets using sera from infected patients confi

SUBMITTER: Campelo F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11538998 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature